UVEITIS:
he inflammation from starting. Many horses wear fly masks to cut down on thy light and owners are also using dietary supplements to hEquine recurrent
uveitis, sometimes known as moon blindness, is a disease of the horse's
eye that can be caused by many different things -- bacteria, virus,
parasites, or trauma. Signs that an eye is in distress include redness,
swelling, pus, pupil constriction in the dark, cloudiness, squinting,
and photophobia. Uveitis is often diagnosed as something far less
serious and valuable treatment time is lost. If not treated
aggressively from the onset, there is less chance of saving sight in
one or both eyes. Unfortunately, even with very aggressive treatment,
some eyes cannot be saved, but in other cases the disease can be halted
or at least slowed down.
When the uveitis first starts, if the original cause can be determined then additional treatment may be used depending on the cause. The usual short term treatment includes atropine to dilate the eye, followed by either a steroid or antibiotic. Treatment must be prescribed by a veterinarian because if a steroid is used when the eye is ulcerated, blindness can result. Bute, banamine or aspirin are used as anti-inflammatory agents along with the other medications.
After the original episode has been successfully treated, the inflammation and signs will disappear and the eye may appear to be normal or almost normal. At sometime in the future, if it is recurrent uveitis, a set of circumstances will cause the eye to have another episode. The circumstances can be internal; external such as wind, dust, pollen; stress of any kind; or due to stopping the anti-inflammatory medicine prematurely. With recurrent uveitis, the episodes continue to occur. Each one lasts a little longer and each time the eye loses a little more sight.
Long term maintenance treatment will often include aspirin, bute or banamine on a regular basis in an attempt to keep Help build up the horse.
When the uveitis first starts, if the original cause can be determined then additional treatment may be used depending on the cause. The usual short term treatment includes atropine to dilate the eye, followed by either a steroid or antibiotic. Treatment must be prescribed by a veterinarian because if a steroid is used when the eye is ulcerated, blindness can result. Bute, banamine or aspirin are used as anti-inflammatory agents along with the other medications.
After the original episode has been successfully treated, the inflammation and signs will disappear and the eye may appear to be normal or almost normal. At sometime in the future, if it is recurrent uveitis, a set of circumstances will cause the eye to have another episode. The circumstances can be internal; external such as wind, dust, pollen; stress of any kind; or due to stopping the anti-inflammatory medicine prematurely. With recurrent uveitis, the episodes continue to occur. Each one lasts a little longer and each time the eye loses a little more sight.
Long term maintenance treatment will often include aspirin, bute or banamine on a regular basis in an attempt to keep Help build up the horse.
Recommended things to help are
Brewers yeast
Pro bio
Guardian mask
drops from the vet
dedicated care from the owner
1 bute a day to minimise inflamation
Brewers yeast
Pro bio
Guardian mask
drops from the vet
dedicated care from the owner
1 bute a day to minimise inflamation
Ulcer (eye)
Caused by
trauma
injury
bacteria
First onset get the vet who will be able to confirm .This is a must don't treat to vet has seen horse
eye drops in the way of
cloromycetin
chloramphenical
are usually administered by the vet, and will recommend regular applications. and will need to stain the eye to see how bad ulcer is and when it goes. quick action is recommended to lesson the damage to cornea.
Fly mask recommended while ulcer is in the eye to keep it protected.
trauma
injury
bacteria
First onset get the vet who will be able to confirm .This is a must don't treat to vet has seen horse
eye drops in the way of
cloromycetin
chloramphenical
are usually administered by the vet, and will recommend regular applications. and will need to stain the eye to see how bad ulcer is and when it goes. quick action is recommended to lesson the damage to cornea.
Fly mask recommended while ulcer is in the eye to keep it protected.
Ulcer ( eye ) fungal
Equine Corneal Fungal Infections
Of all the domestic species, it seems to me that the horse is the most sensitive to diseases of the outer layer of the eyeball called the cornea. However, a tiny scratch that causes a corneal ulcer on a horse’s eye can lead to blindness and possibly require removal of the eye. For this reason, it is imperative that anytime a horse is squinting an eye, call a veterinarian immediately.
You should not use any mediation in the horse’s eye until it is examined by a vet. Many of the opthalmic medications commonly used in small animals contain cortisone and cortisone can make the horse’s eye susceptible to infection, especially a fungal infection. Also, the incorrect use of antibiotics in a horse’s eye can increase the risk of fungal infections; fungal infections are common in horses and can lead to loss of the eye.
Scrapings and cultures of the corneal ulcer are required to make a diagnosis. Any infection of the equine cornea is potentially serious and usually requires treatment every 4 to 6 hours, which can be a difficult problem. The eye must be dilated to prevent internal damage and relieve pain. Treatment with topical antifungal and antibiotics is required until the ulcer is healed. Sometimes, a tube system must be inserted in the eye to allow frequent treatment as many horses greatly object to treatment. If a horse’s corneal ulcer does not heal in a week, it should be considered infected and different treatment may be required.
Of all the domestic species, it seems to me that the horse is the most sensitive to diseases of the outer layer of the eyeball called the cornea. However, a tiny scratch that causes a corneal ulcer on a horse’s eye can lead to blindness and possibly require removal of the eye. For this reason, it is imperative that anytime a horse is squinting an eye, call a veterinarian immediately.
You should not use any mediation in the horse’s eye until it is examined by a vet. Many of the opthalmic medications commonly used in small animals contain cortisone and cortisone can make the horse’s eye susceptible to infection, especially a fungal infection. Also, the incorrect use of antibiotics in a horse’s eye can increase the risk of fungal infections; fungal infections are common in horses and can lead to loss of the eye.
Scrapings and cultures of the corneal ulcer are required to make a diagnosis. Any infection of the equine cornea is potentially serious and usually requires treatment every 4 to 6 hours, which can be a difficult problem. The eye must be dilated to prevent internal damage and relieve pain. Treatment with topical antifungal and antibiotics is required until the ulcer is healed. Sometimes, a tube system must be inserted in the eye to allow frequent treatment as many horses greatly object to treatment. If a horse’s corneal ulcer does not heal in a week, it should be considered infected and different treatment may be required.
Gastric Ulcers in the Adult Horse
Introduction The term 'ulcers' refers to a break or erosion in the lining of the esophagus, stomach or small intestines. The depth of the erosion determines the severity of the ulcer. Stomach ulcers are more common and occur primarily in the non-glandular (squamous) area of the stomach (See Figure 1). Less commonly, ulcers occur in the glandular area of the stomach. Stomach ulcers occur in horses of all ages but particularly in foals and horses in heavy exercise. In studies on horse populations, stomach ulcers are very common with up to 90% of Standardbred and Thoroughbred horses in race training affected. The clinical signs of ulcers are not noticeable in most horses. Of those horses clinically affected, the signs may include poor athletic performance, weight loss and colic. Horses may also have an unthrifty appearance and mild diarrhea. In foals, teeth grinding (a sign of pain) and excessive salivation are common. Ulcers also occur in the first part of the small intestine (duodenum) and in the esophagus.
1. Food enters the stomach via the esophagus, leaves through the opening called the pylorus and passes into the first portion of the small intestine (duodenum). The stomach contains both squamous and glandular portions.
Causes or Etiology Ulcers are caused by a variety of factors, including:
Diet and feeding management may play a major role in inducing ulcers in horses. By nature, horses are grazing animals, spending much of their day feeding. The grazing horse has a constant flow of saliva and passage of grass into the stomach, buffering stomach acid (2). Most horses graze pasture during the year. However, there are many horses, e.g., racehorses and high-level event horses, that are managed as meal-eaters rather than being allowed to feed or graze continuously. They receive dry hay and concentrates year-round, or for the majority of the year, in a meal rather than eating continuously as in grazing. (Concentrates are mixtures of grain, crushed or whole, along with vitamins and minerals combined in various forms or textures (e.g., sweet-feed, pelletted feed) to compliment the nutrients found in the hay.)
The feeding of high volumes of concentrates in itself increases the production of volatile fatty acids. This, combined with meal-feeding, results in sudden drops in gastric pH and damage to cells in the stomach and intestine.
Measurements of gastric pH revealed that acidity (< pH 2.0) was greatest in horses deprived of food (3). An alternating regimen of feed deprivation for 24 hours followed by free choice hay for 24 hours resulted in erosions and ulceration of gastric mucosa with as little as 48 hours of cumulative food deprivation (3). This is important to remember; horses that are anorectic (not eating) or partially anorectic because of an underlying medical condition can develop erosions and ulcers in their gastric squamous mucosa within one to two days.
When horses were fed timothy grass hay, gastric pH measurements were often greater than pH 6 (3). The feeding of alfalfa hay and grain resulted in a higher gastric pH than feeding grass hay. This may be due to the constituents of alfalfa but further research is needed in the area of the effect of forage type on gastric pH (3).
The stress of training regimen on the animal causes the increased release of corticosteroids and subsequent decrease in blood flow to the stomach lining. This interferes with the natural protective mechanisms and results in more damage from stomach acids.
Medications, such as corticosteroids (prednisolone, dexamethasone) or non-steriodal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) (e.g., phenylbutazone or "Bute", flunixin meglumine or Banamine), may similarly cause gastric ulceration.
Bile acids, which are normally secreted into the duodenum, may reflux into the stomach and also damage the stomach lining.
Treatment The treatment of stomach ulcers involves a combination of changes to feeding management, medical therapy, as well as reducing stress on the horse. Turnout onto green grass pasture along with altering the feeding regimen is likely the fastest method to allow the ulcers to heal. If concentrates are to be fed, they should be fed in small amounts at frequent intervals.
There are many medications that are available to help heal ulcers. They include:
Prevention and Recommendations Horses should be fed no less than 50% (and preferably >70%) of their dry matter intake as long dry hay or pasture.
1. Food enters the stomach via the esophagus, leaves through the opening called the pylorus and passes into the first portion of the small intestine (duodenum). The stomach contains both squamous and glandular portions.
Causes or Etiology Ulcers are caused by a variety of factors, including:
- diet and feeding management - including meal feeding, feeding high levels of concentrates, feed deprivation and types of feed (timothy versus alfalfa).
- the stress of training and the stress of disease.
- medications such as corticosteroids.
- bile acid reflux.
Diet and feeding management may play a major role in inducing ulcers in horses. By nature, horses are grazing animals, spending much of their day feeding. The grazing horse has a constant flow of saliva and passage of grass into the stomach, buffering stomach acid (2). Most horses graze pasture during the year. However, there are many horses, e.g., racehorses and high-level event horses, that are managed as meal-eaters rather than being allowed to feed or graze continuously. They receive dry hay and concentrates year-round, or for the majority of the year, in a meal rather than eating continuously as in grazing. (Concentrates are mixtures of grain, crushed or whole, along with vitamins and minerals combined in various forms or textures (e.g., sweet-feed, pelletted feed) to compliment the nutrients found in the hay.)
The feeding of high volumes of concentrates in itself increases the production of volatile fatty acids. This, combined with meal-feeding, results in sudden drops in gastric pH and damage to cells in the stomach and intestine.
Measurements of gastric pH revealed that acidity (< pH 2.0) was greatest in horses deprived of food (3). An alternating regimen of feed deprivation for 24 hours followed by free choice hay for 24 hours resulted in erosions and ulceration of gastric mucosa with as little as 48 hours of cumulative food deprivation (3). This is important to remember; horses that are anorectic (not eating) or partially anorectic because of an underlying medical condition can develop erosions and ulcers in their gastric squamous mucosa within one to two days.
When horses were fed timothy grass hay, gastric pH measurements were often greater than pH 6 (3). The feeding of alfalfa hay and grain resulted in a higher gastric pH than feeding grass hay. This may be due to the constituents of alfalfa but further research is needed in the area of the effect of forage type on gastric pH (3).
The stress of training regimen on the animal causes the increased release of corticosteroids and subsequent decrease in blood flow to the stomach lining. This interferes with the natural protective mechanisms and results in more damage from stomach acids.
Medications, such as corticosteroids (prednisolone, dexamethasone) or non-steriodal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) (e.g., phenylbutazone or "Bute", flunixin meglumine or Banamine), may similarly cause gastric ulceration.
Bile acids, which are normally secreted into the duodenum, may reflux into the stomach and also damage the stomach lining.
Treatment The treatment of stomach ulcers involves a combination of changes to feeding management, medical therapy, as well as reducing stress on the horse. Turnout onto green grass pasture along with altering the feeding regimen is likely the fastest method to allow the ulcers to heal. If concentrates are to be fed, they should be fed in small amounts at frequent intervals.
There are many medications that are available to help heal ulcers. They include:
- Antacids (aluminum and magnesium hydroxide) will reduce the acidity of the stomach for a short period but must be given every two hours to be effective.
- Histamine-receptor antagonists. Cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Xantac) are commonly used in the horse and are considered very effective in the prevention and treatment of ulcers. They reduce both basal gastric acid production and induced acid production (e.g., from food) by competitively inhibiting histamine at the H2 receptors of the parietal cells (4).
- Omeprazole (Gastroguard, Pepsid) is the most potent anti-ulcer medication currently available. As a proton pump inhibitor, it inhibits gastric acid secretion by interfering with hydrogen ions in the final stage of acid secretion. This medication is given by mouth once daily and, therefore, owner compliance is improved. The raw chemical of omeprazole is available from compounding pharmacies. This type of product is less expensive than the commercial preparations. However, studies have shown that generic, compounded medications may be less effective. There is no quality control for compounded products. Therefore, the amount of active ingredient available in the compounded product may be very variable.
- Sucralfate (Carafate) is another type of medication that is useful in treating stomach ulcers, especially in foals. After ingestion, sucralfate reacts with hydrochloric acid in the stomach to form a paste-like complex that will bind to the proteinaceous exudates that are generally found at ulcer sites. This insoluble complex forms a barrier at the site and prevents the ulcer from further damage caused by pepsin, acid and bile (4). Sucralfate will remain adherent to the ulcer crater for more than six hours (1). Because it requires an acidic environment to be effective, sucralfate should be administered at least ½ hour prior to cimetidine or antiacids.
Prevention and Recommendations Horses should be fed no less than 50% (and preferably >70%) of their dry matter intake as long dry hay or pasture.
- If high levels of concentrates are required (greater than 2.5 lbs twice daily), they should be fed more often and in small amounts, e.g., every 4-6 hours. Since this is labour intensive, and compliance will be variable, use of computerized or mechanical feeding systems may increase compliance.
- Turnout or, better yet, access to pasture on a daily basis is a good way of reducing stress for horses as well as providing a continuous access to nutrients.
- Horses that are being deprived of food for extended periods of time (greater than 12 hours), e.g., pre operatively, management of colic or for any other reason, should be carefully monitored for the development of ulcers